Some more drawings I did while in Italy.

I took a small sketchbook and some pens with me to Italy. I had the opportunity to draw a bit while on planes and in hotel rooms.

Working on a small page in a sketchbook created some limitations. There were some times when I wanted to make a drawing more complex, but there really wasn’t space enough to do it - at least not with the limited time and tools that I was using.

In some ways drawing in such limited spaces was helpful. I compelled me to think about some basic principles or rules I follow in my approach to artwork. It made me realize and appreciate more the significant role that a specific space or medium plays in determining the artistic outcome.

Also, it led me to contemplate that sometimes simplicity is acceptable - or even a desirable quality.

I now have a small sketchbook and pen set that fits into an even smaller plastic pouch - very handy for carrying around and drawing up ‘ideas’ in spare moments.

I liked the red and yellow dynamic and I was deliberately leaving alternating areas completely white. I’m a little bit tempted to color in the white areas on the interior of the design (not the background) but so far I’m resisting the urge.

I also was wondering if the image would scan well from inside the sketchbook or if I’d have to tear the page out. As you can see, leaving the drawing in the sketchbook does not seem to present a problem.

These kind of drawings are very simple to do and I could probably whip out a number of them pretty easily. I like doing things more complex than this but sometimes simple and quick is good too.

Yesterday a friend showed me a magazine called “Computer Arts.” The cover, by an artist named Evgeny Kiselev, immediately grabbed my attention. He experiments with line and color and creates a rather extreme amount of detail. I love it! Beyond that, this Computer Arts magazine looks like it could be an invaluable resource for learning about other artists, tutorials, etc.